Going bald for a cause: Rocky River events benefit St. Baldrick Foundation, raise $200,000 for childhood cancer research

ROCKY
RIVER – The hair was falling fast and the income was rising just as quickly at
two companion events last weekend to benefit the St. Baldrick Foundation, which
raises funds for childhood cancer research.

Joyce
Needham, principal at St. Christopher School, said 59 heads were shaved at the school
on March 14, including Chris Mullen, a junior high math teacher, and John
Yakim, the school's maintenance man. Yakim is a two-year shavee.

The
following day, about 150 heads were shaved at a companion event at The Force
Indoor Sports that was organized by the Rocky River Brewing Co.

The
combined events raised more than $210,000, making it the biggest St. Baldrick fundraiser in
Cleveland, organizers said.

According
to Needham, there are two compelling reasons the St. Christopher and Rocky
River communities embraced the St. Baldrick events: second-grader Shane Haddad,
8, who has a brain tumor, and first-grader Ryan Walther, 7, who recently was
diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Two other St. Christopher students
who now are cancer free, emceed the school event.

Needham
heard about St. Baldrick several years ago and when she learned the Haddad
family was involved, she thought it would be a good way to bring awareness and
support to the school community. She said the school event is part of the
bigger Rocky River Brewing Co. fundraiser.

"Two
years ago, several eighth-grade boys shaved at the Rocky River Brewing Co. and
I thought, why not bring it to school? Our children and Shane's teacher, Jeanne
Klima, embraced Shane and learned much about his illness when he was in
kindergarten," Needham said.

Needham,
who had long, dark hair, was among the shavees last year.

This
year, seventh-grader Tess Smith designed
neon green T-shirt that says," Keep Calm
and Go Bald for Ryan and Shane." More than 300 were sold, as well as buttons
and other items. Stylists from Ichiban Salon in Westlake donated their time and
skills for the event.

"The
school really supports this cause," Needham said. "They look forward to the
shaving with great excitement. The dancers, musicians, barbers all donate their
time to us. It is really moving to hear and see the students go bald in front
of the whole school and parents."

Needham
and many St. Christopher families were at the March 15 event, also. It was easy
to spot the students in their neon green shirts.

Julie
Haylor of Rocky River, a volunteer who helped coordinate that event, said it
has increased in size each year. She said Gary Cintron, owner of the Rocky
River Brewing Co., was approached about hosting the event a few years ago.

"He
was very generous. He gave us everything we asked for and more," she added.

The
event took place at the restaurant until this year.

"We
outgrew the space," she said, so The Force Indoor Sports, located behind the
Brewing Co., allowed the event to use some of its space.

Food
trucks, music and refreshments were available during the event. Many attendees
planned to eat at the Brewing Co. before or after the event.

Stylists
from Charles Scott Salon in Rocky River donate their time each year to shave
heads. Haylor said as the event grew, they added stylists.

"We
had five last year and we had 10 this year," she said.

Haylor
and her husband, Brian, got involved when their daughter, Alexis, 9, was
diagnosed with bone cancer at age 3. He started shaving his head to show
solidarity with her and has continued. As a seven-year participant, he was "knighted"
this year and is a member of the "Knights of the Bald Table."

The
Haylors and Shane Haddad's parents, Eric and Amy, are neighbors and support the
St. Baldrick mission.

There
were some celebrities in the crowd: Cleveland Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer
and his former St. Ignatius High School teammate and former NFL player Drew
Haddad.

Also
at the March 15 event was Peter Richer of Cleveland Heights, who started the
St. Baldrick events in Cleveland a dozen years ago when his son had cancer.

"I
heard about a group of people in New York City who shaved heads on March 17 to
benefit childhood cancer research and we decided to try it here," Richer said.
At first, all shaving took place downtown on St. Patrick's Day, but as the
numbers grew, it became necessary to break into multiple events, he said, which
also increased the donations.

Richer
said local events fund a full-time St. Baldrick Scholar at Rainbow Babies and
Children's Hospital and interns to conduct childhood cancer research.

According
to the St. Baldrick Foundation website, a child is diagnosed with cancer every
three minutes, yet childhood cancers combined get only 4 percent of the U.S.
federal funding for cancer research. St. Baldrick statistics also indicate that
85 percent of children with the most common types of cancer now survive, thanks
to new treatments and research.

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